Battered and bruised face of daughter of hero mum stabbed to death at Christmas party – as teen appears in court over murder

Jayne Toal Reat, 43, died on Monday, with her daughter yelling in court 'it's not fair, it's not fair'

By Paul Higgins

29th December 2017, 12:19 pm

Updated: 31st December 2017, 4:36 am

THE daughter of a woman stabbed to death at a Christmas Day party has faced the man, 19, accused of her mother's murder in court.

Jayne Toal Reat died trying to protect her 21-year-old daughter Charlotte Reat, 21, with the young woman walking into court with a battered face to see Nathan Ward appear in the dock, charged with the December 25 murder.

Pacemaker Press

Charlotte arrived in court with a battered and bruised face

The 19-year-old appeared in Craigavon Magistrates Court with both arms in plaster and was held aloft by blue sponge slings, charged with the killing of his father's partner.

He was also charged with the attempted murders of 21-year-old Miss Reat and his own father Joseph Tweedie on the same date.

With a stitched wound over her right eye, Miss Reat wept as she was held back and comforted by friends and relatives.

In emotional scenes, she leapt forward towards the dock, shouting "it's not fair, it's not fair".

Pacemaker Press

Jayne Toal Reat lost her life in a stabbing on Christmas Day

Pacemaker Press

Charlotte, pictured with her late mum Jayne

Pacemaker Press

Charlotte Reat leaves court, surrounded by family and friends, after the man charged with her mother's murder faced court

Jane pictured with her daughter Charlotte

She had earlier posted on Facebook that she had been stabbed twice in the head, saying: “Today will be a day I will never forget as my mum died in my arms.

“My mum died saving me, I was stabbed twice in the head once in my face and once to the back of my neck."

Her 43-year-old Belfast mum, who was a nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital, died after an incident at a house in Mornington, Lisburn.

It is understood that police and ambulance crews were called to the scene at Ward’s home shortly after 6am.

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